The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-08
MARY'S FATE.
A Pathetic and Romantic Sketch
of Western Life.

1--WE do not take the worth of a
woman into consideration, either when
we love or when we regret her.
1t is no uncommon thing for young
ster to become infatuated with woman
entirely unworthy of his love and affec-
ton, and when in our quiet little noun
tain town of B in Indian Territory,
rumor began to talk of young L in
connection with the subject of this
sketch, to me it was no surprise. His
people came to me for advice and help
in the premises. l recommended pa
thence and apparent indifference and the
matter would die a natural death.
well remember the day that Mary came
to town, having been at the hotel when
the silver stage came slowly numbering
into B.
Seated up beside big Tom," the
stage driver, was a petite, black-eyed
black-haired girl of about nineteen
years, with as sweet and pretty face
as | ever saw in my life. could not
imagine who she was, but few DAYS
after, she was arrested and brought be.
fore me for disorderly conduct. l was
only a justice of the peace, but honored
with the title of judge, a western Gus
tom, but never before fully appreciated
the dignity of my title until she looked
up into my face with such a pleading
expression and said:
Judge, please don't be hard on me;
was persuaded to drink, and not be-
ing accustomed to it, acted strangely
and noisily. Please, judge. don't be
hard on me-"
Well, what could do? / am an old
fellow, in fact what they call an old
timer in the Territory, and particularly
pride myself on my utter Indifference
to women, but, well. l couldn't resist
her, and with mild reprimand re-
leased her.
occasionally caught glimpse O.
her on the street, always neatly dressed
and looking as innocent and nodes
as a schoolgirl, but gave her nc
especial thought until her name begar
to be coupled with young lis. l me-
the youngster almost daily, but he never
spoke to me of her, though l have
known him for many years and have
always been his friend and counsellor.
One evening in December l was sit
ting in my office comfortably ensconcet
in my big chair, the logs were crack
ling merrily in the open fireplace, ant
was-well, must confess it? Dream
ing-just think of it! An old fellow
sixty years old dreaming, and of what
The old, old story-"a woman"-o
one who had been all in all to me in tn,
years gone by when was a young Law
student in Maryland. In the glowing
embers | saw her sweet face, looking a
me in beseeching manner, the way
she looked when l, years ago, Listened
to the worlds calumny and flung from
me the purest love ever offered man
l learned the truth afterward, but sh,
was another wife then and wandere
in the wild West. thought of my owl
miserable, misspent existence, years o
dissipation and ungodliness in mining
camps and wild western towns, ant
with a 81 Ndder was forced to realiz
that with all my philosophy AM
sophistry was but a miserable old fel
low after all, when rap-rap-rap re
sounded sharply at my door, ant
without waiting for an answer in rushe,
young L." He was covered witt
snow FROM head to foot and his fac
was as pale as death. why, my boy"
cried, "v'hat is the matter?" HI
hesitated for moment, and then com
ing up to me, put his hands on m,
shoulders and asked: Judge, will yor
help me?"
Twill l help youP OF course will
What is it? Out with it.
He sank slowly into chair opposit
me and then with a boyish petulanc
asked:
care all women alikeP" and before
could answer, continued, "they are al
as false as hell"
looked at the boy in establishment
''Tell me your trouble" l said, IAN
well see what can be done"
He then commenced by telling me c